Active substance and device for the deacidification of printed matter

ABSTRACT

Modern techniques for manufacturing paper using mechanical wood pulp has lead to a persistent over-acidification of printed manner, and threatens to permanently destroy the same. This over-acidification can be neutralized by using an alkaline active substance whose main component is a salt having a relatively low water affinity. An alkaline deposit can be deposited on the paper by also using said alkaline active substance. A device suited for deacidification using this active substance comprises a case ( 10 ) which can be closed. Printed matter which can be fanned out in a stand ( 1 ) is treated in said case. The printed matter is treated by introducing the powdered active substance via a screw conveyor ( 32 ) into an air stream circulated by a fan ( 19   a ), whereby the printed matter is leafed through in order to expose it to the active substance.

[0001] The present invention relates to an active substance according to the preamble of claim 1 and a device according to claim 6.

[0002] Since the invention of mechanical wood pulp in 1844, all printed matter worldwide has undergone decomposition caused by inherent overacidification. In order to save the cultural wealth stored in billions of documents, numerous experiments have been carried out to deacidify the paper matter.

[0003] These experiments can be divided into three groups:

[0004] 1. Wet treatment

[0005] 2. Gas treatment

[0006] 3. Dry treatment with alkaline powder

[0007] Wet treatment using solutions such as peroxide, etc. has proved to be the most dangerous method of treating valuable documents; the pages become distorted or curl, and in some cases the ink even dissolves and runs. The use of gases such as morpholine vapours, etc. requires the use of a costly vacuum chamber and also increases the cycle time for the treatment. Dry treatment with alkaline powdered substances has often failed owing to the non-uniform application of the powder and the effectiveness of the substance.

[0008] A process for the deacidification of printed matter and a substance according to the preamble of claim 1 are known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,827. In this process, the pages of books are brought into contact with paper coated with a highly concentrated deacidifying substance and mechanically compressed for several days at a high level of humidity—over 75%, preferably 97% relative humidity. Alkali carbonates and alkaline-earth carbonates and their mixtures are used as the deacidifying substance. An alternative proposal is to dust with calcium or magnesium carbonate the pages to be deacidified. The processes are based on ionic migration of the deacidifying substance and are therefore largely dependent on pressure and humidity. The processes described are also very labour-intensive and take from one day to several weeks to carry out.

[0009] Therefore, the primary object of the invention is to provide a fast reacting active substance for the deacidification of printed matter, in particular also bound books. The quality of the paper should be of secondary importance, i.e. the active substance should be as universally usable as possible. It must not damage or alter the printed matter. The active substance must be applied uniformly over the entire surface of the paper and produce the same pH value from the first to the last page of a book.

[0010] A device according to the preamble of claim 6 is known (DE-A1-44 36 635) in which books are held by the spine in a vertically arranged holder and circular-section jets laden with active substances move and blow through the individual pages from the bottom upwards. This results in heavy mechanical loading of the pages, which are also not leafed through in a defined manner, i.e. the diffuse circular-section jets do not uniformly charge the pages with active substance. The device is not suitable for individual pages or plates because the non-uniform application of the active substance has a particularly negative effect.

[0011] Accordingly, an improved device is to be provided which is fitted with a receiver and is also able to deacidify bound books, catalogues, brochures, etc. without mechanically impairing or damaging them.

[0012] This object is achieved by an active substance having the features of claim 1; the device is characterised in claim 6.

[0013] The active substance according to claim 1 is distinguished by good adhesion to the surface of the paper and, owing to the residual moisture still present therein, is three-dimensionally distributed over the paper.

[0014] Preferred embodiments are described in dependent claims.

[0015] The mixture described in claim 2 gives a resulting pH of 9.0 to 9.5, i.e. an alkaline excess is established on the paper, thereby neutralising any further progressing acidification.

[0016] The mixture according to claim 3 has proved successful in selectively setting a pH of 8.2 to 8.5 and is used for less stressed documents.

[0017] Alternatively, a mixture according to claim 4 is used, the resulting pH of which is adjustable in a range from 7.2 to 7.5.

[0018] The addition of polystyrene balls according to claim 5 increases the flowability and thus the conveyability of the active substance.

[0019] Placing the printed matter in a device according to claim 6 has proved particularly successful, the device leafing through the printed matter and uniformly charging it with active substance by means of a staggered row of flat jets. In the case of bound books, these are inserted into the supporting parts with the spines facing downwards and are gently treated by the device. By means of suitable holding arrangements, however, unbound or non-stitched leaves can also be treated.

[0020] Preferably, the receiver for the printed matter is accommodated in a case closable by a hinged cover according to claim 7, thereby avoiding emissions.

[0021] A device according to claim 8 is advantageous from the point of view of promoting flow.

[0022] The supplemented embodiment according to claim 9 is kinematically advantageous, i.e. it only requires a simple drive.

[0023] The arrangement of the air diffuser directly above the supporting parts is particularly advantageous; cf. claim 10.

[0024] By the use of a fan according to claim 11, the active substance is circulated and thereby used repeatedly.

[0025] By the incorporation of a secondary flow with a filter, the device can be emptied of powder and thus opened without problems; see claim 12.

[0026] A dehumidifying chamber according to claim 13, which is inserted into a further secondary flow and by means of which the moistness of the applied powder is kept relatively constant, has proved successful. The moisture drawn out of the books during treatment is thereby absorbed.

[0027] The recirculation of the secondary flow into the main flow according to claim 14 allows particularly simple control of the humidity inside the device.

[0028] Feeding the secondary flow in at the powder inlet according to claim 15 is advantageous because in this way the powder is first acted upon by dry air and conveyed before it comes into contact with the moister air of the main flow.

[0029] In larger installations, a thermal dehumidifying and heating system appears advantageous because it permits virtually continuous operation; cf. claim 16.

[0030] Embodiments of the invention will be further described in the following with reference to drawings, in which like reference numerals are used for like functional components:

[0031]FIG. 1 shows a receiver for printed matter which can be fanned out;

[0032]FIG. 2 shows a plan view of side parts of the receiver according to FIG. 1;

[0033]FIG. 3 shows a section through the side parts according to FIG. 2;

[0034]FIG. 4 shows an overall view of a device for deacidification, with open hinged cover;

[0035]FIG. 5 shows enlarged details from FIG. 4, with books and files placed in the device;

[0036]FIG. 6 shows parts of the device according to FIG. 5 in their operating position, demonstrating the leafing-through of the printed matter;

[0037]FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of the air supply arrangement according to FIGS. 4 to 6;

[0038]FIG. 8 shows a part sectional view of the air supply arrangement according to FIG. 7;

[0039]FIG. 9 shows a plan view of the air supply arrangement according to FIG. 8 rotated through 90°;

[0040]FIG. 10 shows the view according to FIG. 4 with the receiver removed;

[0041]FIG. 11 shows the device according to FIGS. 4 and 10 viewed from behind and with the hinged cover closed;

[0042]FIG. 12 shows the device with the hinged cover closed and viewed from the front;

[0043]FIG. 13 shows a simplified pneumatic diagram of the overall installation, and

[0044]FIG. 14 shows an extended, simplified pneumatic diagram.

[0045]FIG. 1 shows a receiver 1 in the form of a stand for printed matter, in particular books, brochures and the like. The stand has supporting parts 2′ and 2 on the left and right-hand side respectively. These supporting parts comprise a plurality of openings 3 allowing the passage of air. Smaller books 5 are placed on a simple pedestal 4 so that their ends lie at the same height as other printed matter 6′, in this case a brochure.

[0046] The supporting parts 2, 2′ are provided at their ends with covers 7 and are fixed to mounting and transporting strips 8. The sectional view according to FIG. 3 shows the section A-A from FIG. 2. It can be seen from this how the flow S inside the supporting parts 2, 2′ forms a channel flow and draws the book covers outwards and opens the book.

[0047] The device according to FIG. 4 substantially comprises a closable case 10 provided with closing parts 13′ and receiving the stand 1. The hinged cover of the case 10 is designated by 11 and, on its front side, comprises a viewing window 12, closing parts 13 and handles 14. A box-type air diffuser 15 with an outflow plate 16 for its part provided with air outlets 17 is displaceably fixed in the hinged cover 11. A sealed guide rod 18, which here projects beyond the end of the air diffuser 15, is provided for the longitudinal displacement of the air diffuser 15.

[0048] A low-pressure fan 19 a is mounted below the case 10 and, via a large-volume suction tube 20 and an air-inlet tube 21 of the same type, sucks the air from the interior of the case 10 and supplies it again via the air diffuser 15 and the air outlets 17. A cooling unit 22 is additionally arranged outside the case 10 and is connected thereto via tubes 23.

[0049] In FIG. 5, the hinged cover 11 (not shown) is open and the position of the air diffuser 15 is shown accordingly. Here, the parallel, staggered air outlets 17 can be seen in plan view. The grid width of a row of parallel air outlets 17 in a staggered arrangement one behind the other is designated by R.

[0050] In FIG. 6, the hinged cover 11 is closed and the installation is in operation, during which the air diffuser 15 is moved back and forth at a constant rate by the amount R—cf. FIG. 5—characterised by +v and −v. The pages of the printed matter 5, 6, 6′ are leafed through individually by the flow S and charged with active substance.

[0051]FIG. 7 shows, as a further detail, the guide rod 18 with its slide bush 27, which is additionally protected from soiling by the active substance by means of an expansion bellows (not shown).

[0052] The sectional view in FIG. 8 corresponds to the section B-B indicated in FIG. 7 and shows more precisely the box-type structure of the air diffuser 15. The latter is fixed to the hinged cover 11 via a suspension/guide 28 and is closed by the outflow plate 16 provided with the air outlets 17.

[0053]FIG. 9 shows the direction of movement v of the box 15 and also, on the right-hand side, the flexible air-inlet tube 21 with its connecting piece 21′.

[0054] In FIG. 10, the same details can be seen as in FIG. 4, only in this case the receiver 1 has been removed to reveal supporting brackets 24, 24′ and cooling fins/deflectors 25 and heating fins 26 with deflectors.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 11, the rear of the device has a hot-water reservoir 35 and a cooling-fluid reservoir 36 provided with corresponding connections 35′ and 36′ and connected to the tubes 23 shown in FIG. 10. The low-pressure fan 19 a with its drive, being an electric motor 30, and a screw conveyor 32 mounted on a carrier plate 31 and provided with a powder inlet 32′ can also be seen here. A geared motor 33, which provides the linear drive of the air diffuser 15, is arranged thereabove—cf. FIGS. 6 and 7. Upper hinges 34 for opening the hinged cover 11 can also be seen.

[0056] The device is shown in the operational state in FIG. 12, the closing parts 13 hermetically sealing the box-type interior. The pressure connection 37 to the case 10 can also be seen here.

[0057] The schematic diagram in FIG. 13 again shows the case 10 with its reciprocating air diffuser 15 and the accommodated stand 1. A main flow H, accelerated by a low-pressure fan 19 a, sucks air from the bottom of the case 10 and feeds it back into the latter via the air diffuser 15. The powder inlet 32′ of the rotating screw conveyer 32, which is charged with the active substance designated by K, opens into the main flow H.

[0058] On completion of a treatment process, the fan 19 a is switched off and a further low-pressure fan 19 b in a secondary flow N₀ is switched on, which extracts the powdered active substance K from the air stream via a filter 38 and feeds it into a collecting container 40 via an outlet 39. The purified secondary flow is designated by N₀′.

[0059] The installation in FIG. 14, which has been extended in relation to. FIG. 13, comprises, in addition to FIG. 13, a three-way valve 41 which divides the main flow H into a main flow H′ and a secondary flow N₁. The secondary flow N₁ is fed via a further filter 38′ with outlet 39′ and collecting container 40′ to a dehumidifying chamber 43 comprising a carrier sieve 44, spherical air diffusers 45 arranged below the sieve 44 and dehumidifying material 46 arranged above the sieve 44. The collecting chamber 47 thereabove comprises a filter 48 having a sieve inlet 49 and supplies a dehumidified secondary flow N₁′ to a mixing nozzle 50 formed as a two-component ejector. The nozzle 50 feeds the active substance K into the air diffuser 15 by means of the dehumidified secondary flow N₁′.

[0060] The three-way valve 41 is centrally connected to an adjusting member 42 permitting continuously variable division of the main flow H′ and the secondary flow N₁.

[0061] The active substances K can be inexpensively and very simply prepared by repeatedly grinding the components together and then drying them.

[0062] Mixture 1

[0063] 90% KHCO₃ with 10% K₂CO₃, adjusted to a residual moisture content of 10% to 15% by weight, imparts a pH of 9.0 to 9.5 to the treated paper after average treatment time.

[0064] Mixture 2

[0065] 99% KHCO₃ with 1% K₂CO₃, adjusted to a residual moisture content of approximately 10% by weight, imparts a pH of 8.2 to 8.5 to the treated paper.

[0066] Mixture 3

[0067] 99.9% KHCO₃ with 0.1% K₂CO₃, adjusted to a residual moisture content of approximately 10% by weight, imparts a pH of 7.2 to 7.5 to the treated paper.

[0068] It has been shown that the residual moisture in the mixtures increases very rapidly when stored for a few days at room temperature, in particular in the case of mixture 1.

[0069] To improve the flowability or conveyability of the active substance in the installation, it is advisable to mix in an electrostatically active substance, for example in the form of polystyrene balls with a diameter of less than 2 mm.

[0070] For preparation of the components, the following has proved successful:

[0071] rough mixing of the main components KHCO₃ and K₂CO₃

[0072] addition of optional further components, for example potassium hydrogen phosphate or ammonium thiocyanate

[0073] grinding of the mixture in a standard pinned-disc mill in at least two passes

[0074] light drying of the mixture in a circulating-air drying cupboard at a maximum of 50° C. for 12 h in a layer thickness of 5 mm

[0075] packing in air-tight and moisture-tight material.

[0076] Process

[0077] The printed matter 5, 6 and 6′ to be treated is inserted into the stand 1 with the spine facing downwards and placed and sealed in the case 10. During a period of 15 to 30 minutes, the main flow H is fed through the low-pressure fan 19 a via the air diffusor 15 and the printed matter is dried as necessary at room temperature or a slightly higher temperature until it loses approximately 0.5% to 2% of its intrinsic weight. During this process, the printed matter—usually books—is completely leafed through while the air diffuser 15 moves back and forth in a linear, saw-toothed manner, covering the distance R; cf. FIG. 7.

[0078] Active substance K—selected according to the pH to be obtained—is now fed into the main flow H via the screw conveyor 32. The mass of active substance K required is dependent on the mass of printed matter and amounts to approximately 5% of the mass of the latter. Homogeneous distribution of the active substance on the paper is ensured by the turbulent air circulation in the case 10. After a treatment period of 10 to 15 minutes, excess material is removed from the printed matter by switching off the main flow H and switching on the secondary flow N₀ and the printed matter can be removed substantially dust-free.

[0079] The active substance K can be used repeatedly and must be restored to its predetermined mass before each treatment. By renewed grinding and drying, the active substance can also be recirculated and the desired moisture content can be re-established.

[0080] In certain instances, it can be advantageous to remoisten, i.e. recondition the printed matter after treatment with the active substance K. The easiest way of doing this is in a cross-flow container which is fitted with an ultrasonic atomiser and generates a moist air stream.

[0081] Quality Features

[0082] The treatment is distinguished by complete deacidification of the printed matter and applies a detectable alkaline reserve thereto. The deposition of this reserve amounts on average to 0.5% of the weight of the paper. There is no reaction with the paper matrix or the type and printing, i.e. there are no thermal effects and no variation in print quality to be observed. There are no toxicologically harmful deposits and no unpleasant odours imparted to the printed matter. There is no discoloration and no permanent dusty deposits, not even on high-gloss printed pages. The spine of the book remains mechanically sound, irrespective of the type of binding. Treatment quality does not depend on the number of pages; this has been verified with books from 30 to 1000 pages. The size of the printed matter is also unimportant with respect to treatment quality and/or type.

Analysis of Printed Matter Comprising Different Weights of Paper

[0083] Open Open Coated Coated Quality paper paper paper paper criterion 50 g/m² 80 g/m² 80 g/m² 120 g/m² Complete achieved achieved achieved achieved deacidication Deposited up to 2% up to 1.2% 0.4% to 0.3% to alkaline reserve CaCO₃ CaCO₃ 0.6% CaCO₃ 0.4% CaCO₃ No detectable achieved achieved achieved achieved reaction with paper and print No toxi- achieved achieved achieved achieved cologically harmful deposits No unpleasant achieved achieved achieved achieved odours No discoloration achieved achieved achieved achieved No dusty achieved achieved achieved achieved deposits (permanent) No effect on achieved achieved achieved achieved bindings

[0084] Processing Capacity

[0085] Using the previously described testing installation, the following treatment times were measured: Duration [minutes] Duration [minutes] Treatment programme Treatment programme Process parameter Standard Short Loading  3′  3′ Drying 30′ 15′ Charging 15′ 10′ Dust-removal  5′  5′ Unloading  3′  3′ Purifying  3′  3′ Total duration = cadence 59′ 39′

[0086] On the basis of an installation availability of 19 days per month and a load per batch of 20 kg of books, between 35 t and 58 t of books can be permanently deacidified per year depending on the programme selected.

[0087] The use of a chemical dehumidifying chamber 43 is particularly economical in smaller installations. In this case, it is sufficient to feed the secondary flow N₁ from an oil-free compressor (residual moisture content RH 15% at 25° C.) into a 30 cm high drying chamber with a 300 cm² base and filled with silica gel 3 cm to 5 cm in height. The resulting moisture level in the secondary flow N₁′ is 3% RH. In larger installations, the secondary flow N₁ is preferably branched off from the main flow H and also chemically dehumidified; cf. FIG. 14.

[0088] In large installations, it is advisable to provide a separate cooling unit with air circulation provided by a cyclone separator so that the necessary dehumidification and optional subsequent heating can be carried out outside the case 10, without the danger of corrosion and icing.

[0089] Naturally, in the sense of a kinematic reversal, it is also possible for the receiver for the printed matter to be moved and the flat jets to be employed in a stationary manner.

[0090] Further components can also be added to the active substance; for example these can be substances with strongly hygroscopic properties and a suitable pH, such as potassium hydrogen phosphate and ammonium thiocyanate. This type of mixture appears to improve the deposition of the alkaline reserve, in particular in the case of highly coated high-gloss papers.

[0091] The subject of the invention is distinguished by a high level of economy. Both the active substance and the installation are very cost-effective to provide and maintain.

[0092] For large-scale applications—in large libraries, etc.—the subject of the invention can be set up for a high operational capacity through the agency of “industrial handling” and be substantially automated.

[0093] The installation can be transported easily and can be used in situ, for example in archives and libraries, so that unnecessary and, in addition, risky transportation of valuable printed matter does not have to take place. 

1. An alkaline, pulverised active substance for the deacidification of printed matter, in particular bound books, wherein the active substance is distributed over the printed matter by means of air, characterised in that the active substance comprises a mixture of at least two dried inorganic salts, the anionic parts of the salts having a relatively low acidity constant, in that a salt having relatively low water affinity is the main constituent of the active substance and in that the at least one further salt has relatively high water affinity.
 2. An alkaline active substance according to claim 1, characterised in that the salt having high water affinity is potassium carbonate and the salt having relatively low water affinity is potassium hydrogen carbonate, in that potassium carbonate is present in the active substance in an amount of 7% to 15% by weight and in that the active substance has an average particle size of 20 μm to 30 μm and a residual moisture content of less than 20% by weight.
 3. An alkaline active substance according to claim 1, characterised in that the salt having high water affinity is potassium carbonate and the salt having relatively low water affinity is potassium hydrogen carbonate, in that potassium carbonate is present in the active substance in an amount of 0.1% to 5% by weight and in that the active substance has an average particle size of 28 μm to 35 μm and a residual moisture content of less than 15% by weight.
 4. An alkaline active substance according to either one of claims 2 and 3, characterised in that an addition of potassium hydrogen phosphate or ammonium thiocyanate is present in the active substance in an amount of 1% to 5% by weight.
 5. An alkaline active substance according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that 0.5% to 2% by weight of polystyrene balls with a diameter of 0.2 mm to 2 mm is added to the active substance.
 6. A device for the deacidification of printed matter, in particular printed matter which can be fanned out, such as bound books, by means of air streams laden with alkaline active substances in a receiver having supporting parts for the insertion of printed matter, characterised in that the laden air streams are conveyed via an air diffuser (15) comprising an outflow plate (16) and air outlets (17), where they emerge as flat jets (S), in that the printed matter (5, 6′) can be acted upon by at least two of these parallel, staggered flat jets (S), in that the flat jets (S) are at least substantially parallel to the lateral supporting parts (2, 2′) and are displaceable relative thereto in a plane in such a manner that a staggered row (R) of parallel flat jets (17) covers the printed matter completely and uniformly and deposits particles of the active substance in the printed matter.
 7. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that it is arranged in a case (10) tightly closable by a hinged cover (11) and provided with feed and discharge lines (23) and connected to auxiliary units (22).
 8. A device according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the air diffuser (15) is box-shaped.
 9. A device according to claim 8, characterised in that the air diffuser (15) is arranged in a horizontal plane and is laterally displaceable (+v, −v) above the supporting parts (2, 2′).
 10. A device according to claim 9, characterised in that the air diffuser (15) is arranged above the supporting parts (2, 2′) and in that the supporting parts (2, 2′) together with their base frame (8) are laterally displaceable in a horizontal plane.
 11. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that a fan (19 a) is provided which circulates the laden air stream in a main flow (H).
 12. A device according to claim 11, characterised in that a further fan (19 b) is provided which conveys a portion of the laden air stream via a filter (38) in a secondary flow (N₀) and removes the active substance (K) therefrom.
 13. A device according to claim 6, 11 or 12, characterised in that a portion of the laden air stream is conveyed in a secondary flow (N₁) via a filter (38′) and via a dehumidifying chamber (43).
 14. A device according to claim 13, characterised in that the secondary flow (N₁′) is fed into the main flow (H).
 15. A device according to claims 6 and 13, characterised in that a powder inlet (32′) is provided and in that the latter opens into a secondary flow (N₀′) in a mixing nozzle (50).
 16. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that it is connected to a thermal dehumidifying and heating system (22). 